How to check your Azure Blob Storage usage, and see how much data you’ve offloaded with ShArc
Are you using ShArc to offload data from SharePoint? This quick guide shows you how to check how much data has already been moved to Azure Blob Storage. It helps you monitor cost savings, track offloading progress, and make informed decisions about storage optimization.
📌 Note: This method shows only the data that has already been offloaded to Azure Blob via ShArc. It does not reflect your full SharePoint Online storage usage.
Why storage visibility matters
- Track how much SharePoint data has been offloaded to Azure
- Measure cost savings from reduced SharePoint storage usage
- Use usage metrics to evaluate your "Hot" vs. "Cool" tier choice
- Monitor storage growth over time
Step-by-Step: check your current Azure Blob Storage usage
1. Open the Azure Portal
Go to the Azure Portal and log in with your admin credentials.
2. Navigate to your ShArc resource group
Open the resource group associated with your ShArc deployment.
3. Select the storage account
Choose the storage account ShArc uses to offload SharePoint files.
4. Go to Monitoring → Metrics
In the left-hand menu of the storage account, click Monitoring, then Metrics.
5. Set metric namespace to Blob and metric to Blob Count
Select Blob in the "Metric Namespace" dropdown and "Blob Count" as the "Metric" to view the total amount of files.
6. Switch metric to "Blob Capacity" to get the total amount of used storge.
How to interpret the results
- Blob Count helps you understand the volume of files migrated
- Blob Capacity gives you the total offloaded size, and potential cost savings
- You can plug these numbers into the Azure Pricing Calculator to estimate monthly storage costs under "Hot" or "Cool" tiers
What this doesn’t show
Azure Blob metrics only reflect the data that has already been offloaded to Azure. They do not show:
- Deleted versions of offloaded files
- Your total SharePoint Online usage
- How much of your SharePoint data is still “cold”
- What’s still eligible for offloading
Next steps & optimization tips
- Use the Blob capacity data to optimize your tier ("Hot" vs. "Cool")
- Set up alerts in Azure Monitor if storage grows beyond certain thresholds
Frequently asked questions (FAQ)
What’s the difference between Blob Count and Blob Capacity?
Blob Count = number of offloaded files. Blob Capacity = total size in GB/TB.
Can I see my SharePoint storage usage in Azure?
No, Azure only shows what has been offloaded via ShArc. Use ShArc's internal analytics or M365 Admin Center to view SharePoint usage.
How often should I check my Azure Blob usage?
We recommend monthly, especially if offloading rules or data volumes change frequently.
Can I automate alerts for Azure Blob growth?
Yes, set up capacity-based alerts using Azure Monitor.
Need help? Contact our team or talk to your ShArc advisor for best practices.